Scientific Name: Xanthorrhoea australis
Common Name: southern grasstree
Family Classification (Clade): Monocots
Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae
Form Description: Perennial with an underground stem and a tall trunk densely covered with leaf bases.
Flowers: In a dense hard columnar spike up to 1.5m long, very numerous, small, white.
Fruit: Capsule – numerous, sharp-pointed; contained on spikes that turn from green to brown or black. Each capsule holds 2 seeds.
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Sandy soils in coastal or near-coastal areas, north-west, north-east, Furneaux Group and east coast.
Site Tolerance
Dry, Exposed, Moist, Windy
Soil Tolerance
Loam, Nutrient-poor, Sandy, Well-drained
General Notes
Plants need a well-drained, sunny position. Leaf bases and trunk exude a strong smelling resin which has been used as a substitute for shellac. Resin is bee attracting. Flowers spring-summer or following fire. Foliage burns fiercely, leaving persistent crowded leaf bases.
Propagation Calendar
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Flowering Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Seed Collecting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Sowing Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Cutting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Cut stalks when capsules dry, darken and begin to split. Some need to be shaken out.
Seed Treatment Method
Standard Scatter seed thinly on to damp potting mix. Hold seed in place by covering with more potting mix to approximately the depth of the seed size.
Seed Storage Life
Short
Seed Treatment Notes
Seed should be cleaned with sieves before sowing. Most species have good results from seed which should be sown fresh. Seed has short viability and seedlings are very slow growing, taking 2-3 years to reach plantable size.
Germination Time
3-52 weeks